Collapsible egg carton



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coLLAPsIBLE EGG CARTON Filled July 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet `l Hyg.

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March 21, 1944. M. H. slDEBo'rHAM '2,344,567

COLLAPSIBLE EGG CARTON Filed July 16, 1942 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 2,1,1944- M. H. SIDEBOTHAM 2,344,567

GOLLAPS IBLE EGG CARTON Filed July 16, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 3 #ya H H HHJ9 H H -----n-FTJ- /Z H H H TV H U Hbf/ Hg H'g/E 23 March 21, 1944."S|DEBOTHAM 2,344,567

coLLAPsIBLE EGG CARTON F11-ed July 1e, 1942 4 sheets-sheet 4 PatentedMar. 21, 1944 UNITED STATES param orFlcE COLLAPSIBLE EGG CARTON MelvinH. Sidebotham, Newton, Mass.

Application July 16, 1942, Serial No. 4511,115

8 Claims.

This: invention relates generally to containers, and more particularlyto cartons for packaging eggs and other fragile commodities.

One object of my invention is to provide a carton that isY adaptedv toeconomical, high speed production by means of automatic machinery.

Another object is to provide an improved carton with partition membersadhesively secured to the body of the carton.

Another object is to provide an egg carton, using a minimum of'paperboard consistent with the protection required for the commodity;

A further object isV the provision of an egg carton that may be set upfrom collapsed condition quickly andr easily.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent topersons skilled in the art as the same becomes better understoodA byreference tothe following description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, in which I have illustrated one typicalembodiment of my invention, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective View ofthe completed carton, with the coverportions folded upwardly Figure i is an end eleva-tion of the completedi.

carton, taken at 4 4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a top view ofthe carton in partially collapsed condition.

Figure 6 is an elevation illustrating the condition ofthe carton inpartially collapsed condition.

Figure '7 is an end elevation of the carton in partially collapsedcondition, takeny at I-I of Figure 6.

Figure 8, is a section at 3--8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a plan View of the cut and creased blank from` Which the.body of the carton is formed.

Figure 10 isan edgeview of thevblank shown in Figure 9.

Figure 11 is an elevation ofV one of the transverse partitions before itis assembled with the body blank.

Figure 12 is anr edge view ofthe transverse partition shown in Figure11.

Figure 13 is an elevation of the longitudinal s partition.

Figure 14 is a top view of Figure 13.

Figure 15 is a plan View of the partition assembly comprising onelongitudinal partition, and a plurality of transverse partitions.

Figure 1.6 is an elevation of the partition assembly shownv inFigure-15.

Figure 17 is an end eleva-tion of the partition assembly taken atI'I-I'I of IFigure 16.

Similar reference characters indicate similar partsk or features in allvof the views.

The present invention is embodied in the new and improved 2 X 6 eggcarton illustrated in Figures 1 to 4 inclusive. The main element of thecarton is composed of a body blank, cut, creased and folded toy form thebottom, sidewalls and cover elements. The folded body blank is providedwith transverse partitions each having its ends secured to opposite sidewalls of the said body blank. A longitudinal partition is locked withthe mid-portion of each transverse partition to form a plurality ofcompartments into which the commodities to be packaged are placed.

Figure 9 illustrates the prepared blank from which the body of thecarton is formed. The blankV may be made of' paperboard or othersuitable sheet material. The body blank. I` is provided with parallelcrease lines 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 'I and 8 which eiect a division of the blankinto two tuck sections 9, two cover sections l0, two side walls Il', andtwo bottom sections I2. The side walls IIv are provided with a pluralityof partition slots I3. These slots (I3) permit the ends of transversepartitions to be extended from the inside of the carton to the outsidewalls of the carton where the said ends of the transverse partitions arefolded and secured to the outside of the side walls.

Slots I4 are provided, along the crease line 5 dividing the bottomsections, to receive locking members extending fromV the bottom edge ofthe longitudinal partition.

The transverse partitions, cut and creased as illustrated in Figures 11and 12, serve to hold the side Walls lI in parallel position at alltimes and' also to hold the side walls in upright position when the saidtransverse partitions are at right angles with the side walls.

Referring again to'Fgure l1 which shows a detailed illustration oi oneof the transverse partitions i5. Three parallel creased lines I6, I 'Iand IS serve to divide the transverse partitions to provide transversepartition sections I9 and 2Q, and connecting flaps 2! and 22. A recess23 is provided in each transverse partition I5 to receive and hold inalignment the longitudinal' partition 25 (Fig. 13). The tuck sections Sof the body blank are also inserted in the recesses 23 when the-cartonis closed.

The detailed construction of the longitudinal partition 25 is shown inFigures 13 and 14. A plurality of slots 26, extending upwardly from thelower portion of the longitudinal partition, are provided to lock thetransverse partitions with the longitudinal partition when the severalpartitions are assembled as shown in Figures and 16. The said slots 26divide the longitudinal partition to provide longitudinal partitionsections 2l andend sections 28. Locking hooks 29, extending downwardlyfrom one or more of the longitudinal partition sections 21, are providedto lock the longitudinal partition 25 to the bottom sections of thecarton when the said hooks 29 are inserted in slots I4 of the bodyblank, and the hooks brought into engagement with the under surface ofthe carton bottom. The recesses in the top edge of the longitudinalpartition serve no useful purpose other than that they are the result ofcutting longitudinal partitions from a sheet of paperboard without wasteof material.

The several elements which make up the complete partition assembly(Figs. 15, 16 and 17) are connected together by pressing thelongitudinal partition 25 over seven spaced-apart transverse partitions,the sides of slots 26 in the longitudinal partition frictionallyengaging the 4midportions of the transverse partitions, and the sides ofrecesses 23 in the transverse partitions frictionally engaging theadjacent portions of the longitudinal partition.

The partition assembly shown in Figures 15, 16 and 1'7 is combined withthe body blank l to make up the complete carton. In combining thepartition assembly with the body blank l the latter is folded on creaselines Il, 5 and 5 to bring the side walls II to vertical position. Thepartition assembly is placed over bottom sections l2, with the aps 2|and 22 of the transverse partitions projecting through openings I3 inthe side walls Il. The said flaps 2| and 22 are then folded against andare adhesively secured to the corresponding side wall. The hooks 29 onthe lower edge of the longitudinal partition are inserted into the slotsI4 in the bottom section, and locked to the bottom sections bymanipulating the longitudinal partition to bring the said hooks 29 intofrictional engagement with the bottom section.

The carton is closed, after the commodities to be packaged have beenplaced in the compartments formed by the partitions, by folding thecover sections Ill to overlie the partition assembly and then insertingthe tuck sections 9 against the longitudinal partition and into therecesses 23 in the transverse partitions.

The cartons are folded for storage and shipment lby folding the bodyblank of the carton on crease line 5, and projecting the longitudinalpartition beyond an end margin of the blank, and folding the transversepartitions on crease lines I6, as illustrated by Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8.The said Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8 show the carton part-ly opened from datfolded condition in order to better illustrate the position of theseveral parts.

, When the carton is to be set up from flat folded condition, thelongitudinal partition is drawn to a position with the ends thereofsubstantially in alignment with the ends of the carton. This actionserves to automatically unfold the transverse partitions and to forcethe side walls apart to a position where the transverse partitions areat substantially right angles to the side walls. The longitudinalpartition is then manipulated to lock the hooks 2S to the bottomsections l2. The carton is closed after filling by closing the coverelements as above described.

The cover elements of the container are shown and described as thepreferred form of closure, however, the cover may be of one piececreasehinged to one side wall and having a tuck flap inserted betweenthe ends of the transverse partitions and the corresponding side wall.

A feature of my invention resides in the construction of the cartonwhereby the transverse partitions tend to resist the movement of the ylongitudinal partition in the direction to unlock the hooks 29 fromengagement with the bottom of the carton. This resistance is due to theinherent quality of paperboard to resist bending and folding. In orderto lock and unlock the hooks 29 from engagement with the Ibottom of thecarton, all of the transverse partitions must be bent at more thanninety degrees on creased lines I l and IB. The tendency of eachtransverse partitio-n is to return to flat condition unless it is heldfrom so doing. The operation of hooks 2Q serves to hold-the partitionsin position at ninety degrees with the side walls of the carton.

The only element of my improved carton that is not adhesively secured tothe body of the carton is the longitudinal partition, and this elementis so securely locked to the transverse partitions that it cannot beremoved when the carton is closed without destroying the container.

The transverse partitions of my improved container, being adhesivelysecured to the side walls, provide a very sturdy carton that is easilyset up from collapsed condition without danger of misplacing the parts.The longitudinal partition is controlled by hand or a mechanical devicewhile the carton is being set up and locked in upright position.

My invention is not limited to the embodiment herein shown anddescribed, its scope being set forth in the following claims.

Having now described my invention, what I claim is:

l. An egg carton, comprising a body blank, creased, cut and folded toprovide two bottom sections crease-hinged together and having aplurality of horizontal slots therein lying parallel with andinterrupting the crease-hinge; two parallel, upright side walls, eachcrease-hinged to the corresponding bottom section and having sevenvertical slots therein; two cover sections each crease-hinged to thecorresponding wall section; two tuck sections each crease-hinged to thecorresponding cover section; seven transverse partitions positionedbetween and at right angles with the side walls, and each being providedwith a locking slot extending downwardly from the midpoint of its upperedge; opposite aps on each transverse partition extending through thevertical slots in the side walls and being folded against and adhesivelysecured to the adjacent outside surface of the corresponding side wall;and a longitudinal partition positioned in the locking slots in thetransverse partitions; and locking hooks provided on the lower edge ofthe longitudinal partition, projecting through the slots in the bottomand engaging the outside surface of the bottom.

2. An egg carton, comprising a body blank, creased, cut and folded toprovide two bottom sections crease-hinged together and having aplurality of horizontal slots'therein lying parallel with andinterrupting the crease-hinge; two parallel, upright side walls eachcrease-hinged to the corresponding bottom section and each having aplurality of Vertical slots therein; two cover sections eachcrease-hinged to the corresponding wall section; two tuck sections eachcreasehinged to the corresponding cover section; a plurality oftranverse partitions positioned between, and at right angles with theside walls, each transverse partition being provided with a locking slotextending downwardly from the mid-area of its upper edge; opposite flapson each transverse partition, extending through the vertical slots inthe side walls and being folded against and adhesively secured to theadjacent outside surface of the corresponding side wall; a longitudinalpartition positioned in the locking slots provided in the transversepartitions; and locking hooks, on the lower portion of the longitudinalpartition, projecting through slots in the bottom sections and engagingthe outside surface of the bottom.

3. A carton, comprising a body blank, creased, cut and folded to providetwo bottom sections crease-hinged together and having a horizontal slottherein positioned parallel with and interrupting the crease-hinge; twoparallel, upright side walls each crease-hinged to the correspondingbottom section and each having a plurality of vertical slots therein;two cover sections each crease-hinged to the corresponding wall sectionitwo tuck sections each crease-hinged to the corresponding cover section;a plurality of transverse partitions positioned between and at rightangles with the side walls, each transverse partition being providedwith a locking slot extending downwardly from the midpoint of its upperedge; opposite aps on each transverse partition extending through thevertical slots in the side walls and being folded against and adhesivelysecured to the adjacent outside surface of the corresponding side wall;a longitudinal partition positioned in the locking slots provided in thetransverse partitions; and locking hooks, on the lower portion of thelongitudinal partition, projecting through a slot in the bottom sectionsand engaging the outside surface of the bottom.

4. A carton, comprising a body blank, creased, cut and folded to providetwo bottom sections crease-hinged together and having horizontal slotstherein positioned parallel with and interrupting the crease-hinge; twoparallel, upright side walls each crease-hinged to one of the bottomsections and each having a plurality of vertical slots cut therein; acover section creasehinged to the top edge of one of the side walls; atuck section crease-hinged to the edge of the cover section opposite tothe crease-hinged connection with the side wall; a plurality oftransverse partitions positioned between and at right angles with theside walls, each transverse partition being provided with a locking slotextending downwardly from the midpoint of its upper edge; opposite flapson each transverse partition extending through the vertical slots in theside Walls and being folded against and adhesively secured to theadjacent outside sunface of the corresponding side wall; a longitudinalpartition positioned in the locking slots provided in the transversepartitions; and locking hooks, on the lower portion of the longitudinalpartition, projecting through slots in the bottom sections and sneezingthe outside surface of the bottom.

5. A carton, comprising a body blank, creased, cut and folded to providetwo bottom sections crease-hinged together, and having a horizontal slottherein positioned parallel with and interrupting the crease-hinge; twoparallel, upright side walls each crease-hinged to the correspondingbottom section and each having a plurality of vertical slots therein; aplurality of transverse partitions positioned between and at rightangles with the side walls, each transverse partition being providedwith a locking slot extending downwardly from the midpoint of its upperedge; opposite flaps on each transverse partition extending through thevertical slots in the side walls and being folded against and adhesivelysecured to the adjacent outside surface of the corresponding side wall;a longitudinal partition positioned in the locking slots provided in thetransverse partitions; and locking hooks, on the lower portion of thelongitudinal partition, projecting through slots in the bottom sectionsand engaging the outside surface off the bottom.

6. A carton, comprising a body blank, creased, cut and folded to providetwo bottom sections crease-hinged together and having a slot thereinpositioned parallel with and interrupting the crease-hinge; twoparallel, upright side walls each crease-hinged to the correspondingbottom section and each having a plurality of vertical slots therein; aplurality of transverse partitions positioned between and at rightangles with the side walls, each transverse partition being providedwith a locking slot extending downward from the midpoint of its upperedge; opposite flaps on each transverse partition extending through thevertical slots in the side walls and being folded against and adhesivelysecured to the adjacent outside surface of the corresponding side wall;a, longitudinal partition positioned in the locking slots provided inthe transverse partitions; and a locking hook, on the lower portion ofthe longitudinal partition, projecting through a slot in the bottomsections and engaging the outside surface of the bottom.

A carton, comprising a body blank creased, cut and folded to provide abottom having a slot cut in a midportion thereof, upright side wallseach having a plurality of vertical slots therein, a plurality oftransverse partitions having end naps which project through the slots inthe side Walls and are adhesively secured to outside surfaces of thewalls of the carton, a longitudinal partition locked with the midportionof each transverse partition, and a locking hook on the bottom of thelongitudinal partition, projecting through a slot in the bottom andengaging the outside surface of the bottom.

8. A carton, comprising a body blank creased, cut and folded to providea bottom having a slot'l cut in a midportion thereof, upright side wallseach having a plurality of vertical slots therein, a cover crease-hingedto one of the side walls; a plurality of transverse partitions havingend naps which project through the slots in the side walls and areadhesively secured to outside surfaces of the walls of the carton; alongitudinal partition locked with the midportion of each transversepartition, a locking hook on the bottom of the longitudinal partition,projecting through a slot in the bottom and engaging the outside surfaceof the bottom.

MELVIN H. SIDEBOTHAM.

